So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Mark 10 : 50 - 52Readings this week : 2 Corinthians 5 : 16 - 21; James 5 : 13 - 20; Mark 10 : 46 - 52Thought for this weekWe hear in our Gospel reading of Jesus’ healing of Bartimeus, the blind man at the side of the road from Jericho. He could have so easily been overlooked. There were many people about. Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. He might not have stopped.Except Jesus always finds time for those who need Him. Jesus interrupted His journey and called Bartimaeus to Him. Seeing into the man’s life, Jesus asks, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ There could have been so many areas where the man needed healing. No doubt Jesus saw all that he needed. Yet Bartimeus asks to be able to see again.Two things stand out in this encounter. One is Bartimeus’ faith. He calls Jesus, ‘Son of David’, declaring Jesus to be of the royal, even Messianic line. The other is Bartimeus’ boldness. He cries out to Jesus , even more loudly when the crowd try to quieten him.Jesus sees into our lives. He knows our troubles, our anxieties and fears. He is the Lord who loves us. Our faith grows as we learn to trust in Him and know He meets with us in our needs. May we also have boldness to tell others, and to stand out from the crowd when needed. Rev PaulPrayer for this week (inspired by Psalm 124 and James 5)If it had not been God who was on our side, the troubles of our world would have swallowed us whole. If it had not been God who was on our side, the sorrows of our times would have swept us away. Are any among us suffering? Come and pray. Are any among us cheerful? Come sing songs of praise. Are any among us sick? Come and ask for healing. Our help is in our God, the One who made heaven and earth. Call upon God, creator and rescuer. God is on our side.posted on the Worship Elements page of the Ministry Matters website. https://www.ministrymatters.com/People to pray forFor the work of Teen ChallengeFor Joe as he is baptisedFor relief workers across the Middle East
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 29th September 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 29th September 9:30am Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 29th September 11:15 am Service of the word (at St Ed’s and livestream)Sunday 29th September 4:00 pm Baptism (at St Ed’s)Monday 30th September 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 1st October 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 1st October 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 2nd October 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 2nd October 5:00 pm Evening Prayer (at St Ed’s)Thursday 3rd October 8.30am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 3rd October 7.00pm Compline with meditation (at St Ed’s and livestream) Friday 4th October 9:30 am to12.00 noon Arts and Craft Group , - bring anything – art or craft - you fancy doing and coffee and tea are provided. (at Trinity church)Friday 4th October 11.00am Burial of ashes (at St Ed’s )Saturday 5th October Wedding (at St Peter’s)Also Sunday 6th October, At St Ed’s 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Holy Communion, 3pm Wedding. Plus online 11:15am Informal Service. For on-line services, watch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'.Everyone welcome.AdditionallyRingland: future services/events for Ringland St Peter’s: October 5th Wedding at St Peter’sOctober13th 10.30am service at St Peter’sOctober 16th PCC meeting at St Peter’sNovember 10th 10.30am Remembrance serviceSunday 29th September (5th Sunday) we will be welcoming Tommy from Teen Challenge at Drayton Hall, who will be giving his testimony how Jesus has set him free. You may have visited the Teen Challenge Café in Drayton, named 5 : 17, after 2 Corinthians 5 : 17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”Thank you! Our Harvest food donations have been delivered to the local Foodbank. The organisers have thanked everyone for their generosity. Shoeboxes we have leaflets in St Ed's. You may want to gather shoeboxes? The shoebox services will be on 3rd November.Norfolk Churches Trust Walk/Cycle/Drive Any further contributions can be left in the vestry (St Ed's) for Molly and Polly or Rev Paul. We will soon be able to announce the totals donated. Thank you.
“I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Matthew 25 : 34 - 36Readings this week : Deuteronomy 26 : 1 – 11; Matthew 25 : 31 - 46Thought for the weekWe celebrate harvest today at St Ed's. We have so much to give thanks for in the abundance of all we have. For the astonishing creation that enables seeds to grow and harvest to happen. For the beauty of the seasons that brings constant change and life. For the gift of water, and community, and all the things that make Harvest possible, and are so much part of our daily lives.There is another harvest too, that Jesus speaks of in our Gospel reading. A harvest of kindness, of grace, forgiveness, of openness. Welcome to the outsider, visiting the wounded and suffering. Peace for the lonely. For the poor, the grieving and the sad. Jesus speaks of a harvest of faith. Of hearts turned to the Lord and His ways. A Harvest rooted and abundant in love, humility, sacrifice and hope.We are all part of the Harvest Jesus calls us to. We are called to respond to Jesus’ generous love. We praise Him for Ben’s call to ministry. We also give thanks for the miracle of faith and generosity that has enabled the church repairs. As we bring our gifts today, we give thanks that Jesus calls us to this Harvest that leads to transformed lives and hearts full of grace. The Harvest of faith Jesus calls each of us into. Rev PaulPrayer for this weekRisen Lord of the harvest, as the wild flower scatters its seeds far and wide, so may your people scatter the seed of hope in the soils of despair, bringing to growth those good things that are your gift and promise. And may the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, rest on us and on all our work and worship done in his name. Amen.Christopher Burkett, Harvest for the World, 2002. Posted at http://www.mothersunion.org/God, the Holy Spirit, You are the restless wind of love that sweeps through the world. You blow where you will, breaking down barriers, Stirring hearts to change, making all things possible. Make us restless for change – even impossible change.Come, Spirit of God, Sweep through our world bringing great change. May the harvest of your goodness bring justice and hope. And, for us, transformation in our praying and living, So all may share in the harvest of your blessings. Amen.~ posted on the Third Space website. http://third-space.org.uk/blog
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 22nd September 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 22nd September 9:30am Harvest Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 22nd September 11:15 am Harvest Service (at St Ed’s)Sunday 22nd September 12:30 pm Bring and Share Lunch (at St Ed’s)Unfortunately there will be no livestream this weekMonday 23rd September 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 24th September 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 24th September 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 25th September 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 25th September 5:00 pm Evening Prayer (at St Ed’s)Thursday 26th September 8.30am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 26th September 4.00pm Burial of ashes (at St Ed’s)Thursday 26th September 7.00pm Compline with meditation (at St Ed’s and livestream) Friday 27th September 9:30 am to12.00 noon Arts and Craft Group , - bring anything – art or craft - you fancy doing and coffee and tea are provided. (at Trinity church)Also Sunday 29th September, At St Ed’s 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Morning Service, 4:00pm Baptism. Plus online 11:15am Informal Service. For on-line services, watch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'.Everyone welcome.AdditionallyRingland: future services/events for Ringland St Peter’s: October 5th Wedding at St Peter’sOctober13th 10.30am service at St Peter’sOctober 16th PCC meeting at St Peter’sNovember 10th 10.30am Remembrance serviceCongratulations! To Ben Fiaz on his Licensing as an LLM at the Cathedral yesterday. Ben will now be able to lead services and preach, amongst many other areas of ministry. We praise the Lord for Ben’s ministry.Harvest Festival at St Ed's is today (22nd)). We will be passing non perishable items to our local Foodbank. Thank you for your donations. There will be a bring and share lunch after the service. Sunday 29th September (5th Sunday) at St Ed's we will be welcoming Tom Tyler from Teen Challenge at Drayton Hall, who will be giving his testimony how Jesus has set him free. You may have visited the Teen Challenge Café in Drayton, named 5 : 17, after 2 Corinthians 5 : 17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”Norfolk Churches Trust Walk/Cycle/Drive Thank you so much to everyone who supported Molly, Polly and Rev Paul. Amounts are still being gathered, but we’ll let you know of the totals as soon as we can.Shoeboxes we have leaflets in St Ed's. You may want to gather shoeboxes? The shoebox services will be on 3rd November.
